RowanSOM Alzheimer’s Research Receives Over $2 Million Grant

Robert Nagele, PhD, Professor of Medicine at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM), has secured a three-year, $2,029,394 grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to continue his team’s research on an Alzheimer’s early detection blood test. This grant comes after Dr. Nagele and his team published their breakthrough proof of concept study last year which demonstrated an overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rate of 100 percent in identifying subjects whose mild cognitive impairment was caused by an early stage of Alzheimer’s.

“We know that early treatment greatly increases the likelihood of a successful outcome in fighting any disease and that Alzheimer’s-related changes begin in the brain at least a decade before symptoms emerge,” Dr. Nagele said. “So developing an accurate, relatively noninvasive and inexpensive blood test for Alzheimer’s would be of great benefit to patients afflicted with this disease. In addition, the test would allow earlier enrollment of patients into clinical trials, and would enable physicians to accurately monitor the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in patients who are under treatment.”

“This grant moves us closer to the day when we have an early diagnostic test that could ultimately open a pathway to defeating Alzheimer’s disease,” said Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, Dean of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. “We are grateful to the NIA for supporting this amazing research at RowanSOM.” Read more.

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

The NIA grant comes at the end of an eventful month for Alzheimer’s awareness. Learn more about Alzheimer’s Association and their campaign throughout June to #endalz.